The Republican journal., 1887-11-17
A Few Words About MiIlbridge.

TO TIE EDITOR OF TIE Journal: Possibly
few words regarding the town of Millbrilse
may prove Of sufficient interest to Justify pub
ication Twelve years ago visited this place
for the first time. 1t was then ii thriving,
active, and cnterpri>ing little village of about
one thousand inhabitants. Now find it to be
much larger, although the business for which
it was then distinguished has entirely decayed.
Up to within q Very few Years this had been
one of the leading shipbuilding points in Maine.
Now the decaying stocks and rottiny wharfs
unerringly bespeak the destruction of this
once thriving industry. As there can be no
great loss without some small gain other pur-
suits are rapidly arising to fill its place. The
packing business has grown wonderfully within
the past few years One firm alone gives em-
ployment to over three hundred hands. The
fine favored "FrCnch Sardines' which tickle
your palate at the morning meal taste Just rs
nicely as though they had actually been import
ed from La Belle France. 1t is safe to say.
however. that they are put up in Mbridgc or
some other OF the numerous places on the
Maine coast devoted to this branch of trade
Gathering and canning berries is another of
the varied industries for which MiIlhridve is
now noted. Ii is doubtful if there is another
point i'll Maine where the BURBERRY grows In
such abundance. There are vast plains stretch
ing off in all directions which are exclusively
devoted to this fruit The gathering Of these
berries IN the season gives employment to large
number of persons. mostly women and child
ron. 1t is said that this region supplies the
largest portion Of the markets of the country
with this berry that has become so in,ii>pcn>;i-
bic to every well regulated pantry.
There is one thin" that Milllridge piumcs it.
self on above al others. 1t is the only town
in New England that possesses full biooded
live cannibal girl As an active member Of society.
The facts of the case are these. Some eight years
ago, Capt. l.. q. Means ;reSi,lent of this village.
and commander of the ship Iouave, was crtis-
ing in the waters of the South Pacific Rum
ming short of water he ran his vessel into Il port
on one of the Cannibal Islands to obtain a SUP
ply. The natives, who We're among the terccst
and most warlike of that savage land We're
soon sWarmin@ around he ships side. 1t seems
that they had just returned from an expedition
against ne@lborin- tribe, and had captured
a lare" number of prisoners. Among these
prisoners was Il child-a little Girl of some
seven or eight years of age The chief in
formed Capt. Means that he had reserved this
child for his own tooth and should roast and eat
her that very evening. Capt. Means Immediate
ly began to rack his brains for some device by
which he could save the child from dreadful
Il fate. He knew only too well that it would
be useless to argue the matter with these bar
barian> from Christian standpoint. Finally
he told the chicftain that he had long had a de-
sire to eat Il member of the tribe to which the
girl belonged. and that if he would sell him
the captive lie should esteem it as !: mark of
especial favor and would ever remain Oh terms
Of amity with the chief ana his tribe. After
much hag@ling the chief agreed to give her up
10 the captain in exchange for tive dollars
worth of salt beef. The trade was immcdiatc-
ly closed and the girl brought aboard the ship.
As a mark of his good will the chief offered to
send one of his own men aboard 10 roast the
child in the most approved fashion. Capt.
Means assured him that this mark of friend
ship would not be required. as he. the captain.
was thoroughly familiar with the process of
cooking children. Shortly afterwards the ship
weighed anchor and left the harbor The
trouble of the child then began. She was
thoroughly convinced that she was to l,e roast
| cd and served up Oh tle captains table. 1t
was only by force that she could he prevent
ed from jumping overheard. Hal She sue
cecdcd in doing SO she would undoubtedly
reached the land. two miles away, being all eN-
pert swimmer. Death had no tcrrors fer her
when received ut the hands of her own race.
| as she regarded that as tRtc the proper thing.
But 10 be roasted and eaten by these strange,
white barbarians. WAS entirely too much for
her eomp0>urc. At last hy signs. gestures.
and kind treatment, the captain and crew sue
ceeded i'll making her understand that no harm
was intended. From that time on she became
| a general fayorite on board the ship. She ran
among the sailors and cVilced the greatest GU
riosty regarding everything she saw The men
all took pleasure i'll teaching her the language,
and She showed Il wonderful aptitude in ac-
quring the English tongue BY the time the
| ship arrived in port, seven months from the
| time the girl had been taken on board, she had
become sufficiently proficient to speak her new
| language with ease and tucncy. Her arrival
| in MlllbrldSe cause.-the deepest interest among
| all classes. Even scientists from abroad came
| to see her. Although she had long since learn
| ed to have no fear of the captain and his crew,
| the sight of a stranger threw her into Il perfect
l nf tarr " hpn ai,rl,I
was seen approaching the house she would run
| to Mrs. Means, throw her arms around that
lady, and piteously beg to be saved. Her cries
on such occasions were absolutely hcartrending.
Gradually, however, this feeling of fear wore
| away and she began her process of civilization.
| The captain and his kind hearted wife did every
| thing in their powerto aid her in this direction.
! They adopted her as a child. and she has ever
| since been treated as one of the family. No
one knows her age, but she is supposed to be
about sixteen years Old at the present time
She attends school regularly and has become Il
very fair scholar in all the elementary branches.
| Among all her schoolmatcs, and the village
| people in general. she is extremely popular, be-
ing of remarkably gentle disposition. In stat
| ure she is short and t1eshy. The brain recedes,
showing wonderful power of observation but
lacking the reflective element The teeth pro-
trude, making disagreeabe impression at first
| sight, but the feeling soon wears off on better
acquaintance. She is exceedingly proud and
|
ter dressed young lady walks the streets of
Milbridge. The captain and his wife seem to
| take much pride i'm gratifying her taste in this
| direction As neat as wax in her person,
everything around her must be in the same
condition. Her complexion is Il dark olive,
and in point of intelligence she seems to be full
ly, if not above, the average of the Negro race.
All the savage traits of her character have dis
| appeared under the gentle influence of Mill
bridge civilization. In fine needle and fancy
work she is said not to have a superior in the
village. She still retains her beautiful barbara
an name-Searda. The only trait of her early
life WHICH she retains is her love for the water.
Occasionally she will steal away and 90 in
swimming, and it is said by those who have
seen her in the water that she will swim like a
fish, and remain under water rs long as duck.
1t is doubtful if there is a swimmer in Maine
hat could catch her in the water. Her love
for her benefactors, Capt. Means and his wife,
is truly touching. She would make any sacri-
flee, even to life itself. in their behalf. They
are equally fond of her. and well they may be
for no child Of their own blood could ever cX-
eel her in fial devotion. This account of the
| cannibal Girl of MillhriIve has been written